Collision energy absorbing structure for a vehicle side body

Abstract

A side body collision energy absorbing structure which has a closed cross-section configuration member formed by a belt line reinforcement or a door panel and a stiffness reduced portion formed at least on the belt line reinforcement or the door panel so that a portion of the closed cross-section member facing toward a passenger in a direction transverse to the vehicle has relatively lower stiffness compared with the remaining portion. By providing such a reduced stiffness portion, the shock acting on passengers can be effectively moderated. Furthermore, the stiffness reduced portion may be concealed in a side door by a trim which does not protrude toward the passenger compartment of the vehicle when the stiffness reduced portion is formed by a bead at least on the belt line reinforcement or the door panel.

I claim: 
     
       1. A collision energy absorbing structure for a vehicle side body, comprising: a closed cross-section member formed by a belt line reinforcement and a side door panel, wherein the closed cross-section member includes a stiffness reduced portion formed on a side of at least one of the belt line reinforcement and the side door panel facing toward a passenger seated in the vehicle and the stiffness reduced portion has a relatively lower stiffness than the remaining portion of the closed cross-section member.   
     
     
       2. A collision energy absorbing structure in accordance with claim 1 in which the stiffness reduced portion is concealed in a side door. 
     
     
       3. A collision energy absorbing structure in accordance with claim 2 which the stiffness reduced portion is concealed by a flat trim which does not protrude toward the passenger. 
     
     
       4. A collision energy absorbing structure in accordance with claim 1 in which the stiffness reduced portion is a concave portion on the closed cross-section member. 
     
     
       5. A collision energy absorbing structure in accordance with claim 4 in which the concave portion is formed on the belt line reinforcement, and the concave portion is spaced from a door inner panel by a predetermined gap without being welded to the door inner panel. 
     
     
       6. A collision energy absorbing structure in accordance with claim 5 in which the belt line reinforcement is connected to an upper edge of the door inner panel. 
     
     
       7. A collision energy absorbing structure in accordance with claim 1 in which the stiffness reduced portion is provided at a plurality of portions. 
     
     
       8. A collision energy absorbing structure in accordance with claim 7 in which the plurality of stiffness reduced portions is formed on the belt line reinforcement which is connected to a door inner panel covered with a flat trim. 
     
     
       9. A collision energy absorbing structure in accordance with claim 1 in which the stiffness reduced portion is provided at a portion corresponding to the side of a passenger who is seated on a rear seat. 
     
     
       10. A collision energy absorbing structure in accordance with claim 1 in which the stiffness reduced portion is a concave portion, and an energy absorber is fitted to the inside surface of the concave portion. 
     
     
       11. A collision energy absorbing structure in accordance with claim 1 in which the stiffness reduced portion is a longitudinal groove formed on an upper horizontal surface of an inner panel of the side door. 
     
     
       12. A collision energy absorbing structure in accordance with claim 1 in which the stiffness reduced portion is a plurality of beads formed on a vertical surface of an inner panel of the side door. 
     
     
       13. A collision energy absorbing structure in accordance with claim 1 in which the stiffness reduced portion is a round portion provided at a corner of an inner panel of the side door panel. 
     
     
       14. A collision energy absorbing structure in accordance with claim 13 in which the stiffness reduced portion further comprises a plurality of holes provided below the round portion. 
     
     
       15. A collision energy absorbing structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the stiffness reduced portion is disposed on an inner side door panel. 
     
     
       16. A collision energy absorbing structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the closed cross section member is disposed between a side glass window and the passenger. 
     
     
       17. A collision energy absorbing structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the stiffness reduced portion further comprises a plurality of holes provided below the round portion. 
     
     
       18. A collision energy absorbing structure for a vehicle side body, comprising: a closed cross-section member formed by a belt line reinforcement and a side door panel, wherein the closed cross-section member includes a stiffness reduced portion formed on an inner side door panel facing toward a passenger seated in the vehicle and the stiffness reduced portion has a relatively lower stiffness than the remaining portion of the closed cross-section member.   
     
     
       19. A collision energy absorbing structure for a vehicle said body, comprising: a closed cross-section member formed by a belt line reinforcement and a side door panel, wherein the closed cross-section member includes a stiffness reduced portion formed on a round portion provided at a corner of an inner panel of the side door panel facing toward a passenger seated in the vehicle and the stiffness reduced portion has a relatively lower stiffness than the remaining portion of the closed cross-section member.